CA2527679A1

CA2527679A1 - Interconnected tent structure

Info

Publication number: CA2527679A1
Application number: CA 2527679
Authority: CA
Inventors: Glendon Perry Hounsom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-08
Filing date: 2005-12-08
Publication date: 2007-06-08

Abstract

This inventive change is to the family of umbrellas. Instead of being a folding circular cover of nylon etc. attached to ribs from a stick, that someone would carry, or a larger folding marketing type, this umbra or penumbra, (part shade) as I will refer to it, differs as follows:

The penumbra construction is based on a suspension system, built of plastic or aluminium, etc.
Because of its size, (twice the span of regular umbrellas) it is of rigid frame, and has to be assembled. The covering consists of six separate equilateral triangles of material, hemmed to receive elastic chords, to be stretched from the centre post to two of the outside posts of the perimeter. The chords hold the assemblage together, while also supporting the shade panels at alternating heights to alleviate wind updraft. The covering panels can be closed, and side panels added to produce a tent structure.

Description

Description This invention relates to an umbrella that does not give total shade unless fully closed. The first reason for changing the umbrella, as we know it, is to eliminate problems of updraft, lifting the unlbrella up and over. or away. to the neighbours yard. Separation of cover panels, to a desired opening, eliminates this problem and also names it penumbra. (part shade). The second reason for change is that folding umbrellas can only be so big because of the principal used in supporting the umbrella's covering. Using the suspension system from rigid arms allows the structure to be much, much larger. Joining the penumbras is an option, (See fig. 6) along with the option of creating a tent. (See fig. 14) The structural parts of the penumbra assemblage consist of a centre pole (1) 3.5" or 87mm to 4"or (100mm) in diameter and 11' or more, (3350mm) in length, threaded at both ends for a length of 4' (1200mm) The pole fits over a shaft, augured to ground. (2) Five or six large hex nuts are turned onto the upper threading. The largest (bottom most) hex nut (3) will be referred to as the support nut. Attached to all 6 sides is a vertical blade of the same material as the pole and hex nuts. The blades (4) are 2'0" or 600mm in length and 3"or so, (75mm) in depth, and wide enough to fit tightly into 6 hollow sections (5). The sections 4"+_(l00mm) in depth fit over the support nut blades (4) and range in length, 7'(2140mm) 8'(2440mm) or 9'(2750mm).

At the perimeter or outside end of the hollow sections, they receive another shorter blade (6) attached to another hex nut (7) with two more blades each side of the hollow section connection.
Threaded (8) short poles +-8"(200mm) are turned into the six hex nuts, (7) and (plastic donuts)(9) put to the poles along with lock nuts, (head nuts)(10).

Six perimeter hollow sections (11) are connected to the shorter blades (6) each side of the blade connecting the main spoke hollow sections. These six perimeter hollow sections are the same size as the six radial hollow sections (5), but for a bottom slot at one end, 11" in length.

On the centre pole (1) another hex nut (12) is turned to approximately 1'6"(450mm) above the support nut. Above this is placed a (plastic donut) (9), and a lock nut (13).
A repeat of this is done once again on the centre pole (1). Another hex nut (14) is turned to approximately 10"
(250mm) above the first or 2'4" (700mm) above the support nut (3). Above this is placed a (plastic donut) (9), and a lock nut. This lock nut could possibly be the head nut, with finial.(16) If a table (17) is desired around the centre pole, another support nut (3) complete with blades (4) is turned up to the desired height from the bottom, after a 4'6"(1370mm) diameter table top, (17) has been slipped on through the provided centre hole in the top. The tabletop can be of plastic or wood.

The covering for this penumbra is six equilateral covers (18), each with a side length, equal+ to the length of hollow sections being used. The desired material is hemmed so as to be able to thread an elastic chord (19) through the hemmed three sides and be joined by a metal (brass) connector. The connector can be disconnected, to allow for the cleaning of the covers.
Numbering the six sections comprising the cover, 1 to 6, the odd numbers 1,3&
5 are connected first, from the centre post (1) above the (plastic donut) at the 1'6" level above the support nut (3) to two of the short posts (8) below the (plastic donuts) (9) at the perimeter.
These cover sections cover alternating spaces, so that all perimeter short posts are being used.
Cover sections 2,4& 6 are connected next, first from the centre pole above the (plastic donut) (9) at the 2'2" +-(660mm) level above the support nut to two of the short posts (8) below the (plastic donut)(9) on the perimeter. These last cover sections 2,4& 6 are to be over the alternating spaces, not covered by sections 1,3& 5. The lift space of 10" (250mm) can be decreased, depending on wind uplift of that day. A turn of hex nut (14) at the centre post can provide different spacing between lower covers, 1,3& 5 and higher cover sections, 2,4& 6.

Penumbras when used together, to form a greater area of cover, can be joined at the radial boxed tube (5) perimeter posts (8) with six blades (6). The best use of joining would be in triangulation for any number of penumbras. When any three penumbras come together, one triangular material section would be added in the middle to achieve complete cover. Any number of additional penumbras can be used only space would be the limiting factor. (See fig. 6) Other ways the penumbra can be used are as follows:

The penumbra, when sides are added can be used as a tent. The side panels, (18 S) made of the same material as the top cover panels hang from the perimeter boxed tubes that slide through a wide loose hemmed top section. These panels, having flaps each side, are joined to the next panel with Velcro connections. The top sections are closed, by having all elastic chords at the centre pole, attached at the same height. When this is done, the upper panels overlap the lower panels and come together with Velcro connections. The addition of a cap (15) covering openings at the centre pole and connected by the finial head nut, complete the enclosure. These tent structures can be stabilized, with the use of guy ropes connected to short posts (8) and anchored to ground. Tent structures can also be joined, as can penumbras, covering a far larger area.
When this is done, sides (18S) would be only added to the outside perimeter.
It is recommended that if this is the case, longer supporting poles should be used. By substituting the perimeter short poles (8) for longer poles (8L) that would reach the ground, the centre pole (1) of 11' (3350mm) is replaced with a shorter pole (1S) that starts 4"(100mm) below the support nut, then up 3'(900mm) above the support nut (3) where the chords are connected to the centre pole above the (plastic donut) (9) under which is hex nut (14). Above the chord connection, is the cap, (15) then the lock nut (head nut) with finial. (16) The centre pole (1) can be removed, since the chord connections from perimeter post to perimeter post thro' the long diameter, and being lifted to a greater height over the support nut at the centre, creating six truss structures, meeting at the centre post (IS). This allows for a tent structure that is up to 17'(5180mm) (long diameter). Guy ropes will have to be used, for this tent structure. Flat circular plates (20) with connection openings are to be inserted into the bottom of the six posts. (See fig.14)

Claims

1. The penumbra allows for umbrella structures to be twice their size, because of the suspension system used to support their span.

2. The penumbra has six separate equilateral cover panels. When applied to the rigid frame using elastic chords and connected through the hemmed sides of the cover panels, hold the assemblage together without hardware.

3. The cover panels can be removed for cleaning, repair, or replacement.

4. There is the option to turn onto the lower part of the centre post, support for a table top.

5. The penumbras can be joined to other penumbras, to cover an even larger area. This joining, best used would be in triangulation, then, added to as required.

6. The penumbra can become a tent by the addition of sides, hung from the six perimeter hollow sections, fed through a wide hemmed top. The flaps on each side of the six side panels overlap the other side panels, using Velcro connections. Guy ropes stabilize the assemblage.

7. The penumbra when joined to other penumbras can create an even larger tent.
The tent sides are added to the outside perimeter only. Tent poles at 17'(5180mm) or 19'(5800mm) apart should be higher when enclosing a larger area.

8. Tents can be erected without centre poles, when the short perimeter posts at the perimeter are replaced with six poles to ground to support the assemblage. The centre pole is replaced by a centre post 4' 0"+- (1200mm). This post from 4" (100mm) below the support nut rises to and through a hex nut and plastic donut 3' 0"+- (920mm) above the support nut where all the elastic chords are connected, creating six truss structures meeting at the centre. Above this is a lock nut (head nut) and finial.